Melting and drying machine



1941. J. B. SWEENEY MELTING' AND DRYING MACHINE FiIeQ Oct. 31, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 14, 1941 J. B. SWEENEY 2,259,120

MELTING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \Q fa/Ln 50 86118 1941- J. B. SWEENEY 2,259,120

MELTING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Oct. s1, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s' grwelrvtom & J ahn- Sin/"6 1g ings illustrating an operative embodiment.

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l a I 2,259,12o I 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for clearing streets, roads, railroad beds or the like of ice and snow, and it is an improvement over the construction disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 344,994 filed July 11, 1940.

It is particularly aimed to provide a construction which will first remove excess snow, a construction which has means to break ice before treatment by heat, a construction wherein water is effectively removed on grades as well as at a level, a construction having means effectively coacting with the heating means to collect water and remove the same by suction, a construction having a dryer and a brush in front of the dryer, the latter being adjustable to different angles and novel transmission means for operating the various parts.

The more specific objects will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying draw- In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in plan of the improved Figure 5 is a substantially central longitudinal.

sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of the reservoir-forming or water collecting. blades and associated suction nozzle;

Figure 7 is a detail enlarged cross section showing the parts of Figure 6 from th front, and

Figure 8 is adetail section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, a suitable vehicle I0 is employed and by way of example is shown as a truck but it is to be taken as exemplary only since the same function may be performed by other mobile means such as a railroad engine, street car or the like. This vehicle III has a body or chassis H equipped with rearor propelling wheels i2 and front or steering wheels l3. A cab is provided on the body II as at M. Wheels l3 are steered in a conventional manner and wheels l2 are driven in a conventional manner from an internal combustion engine l5, having a standard of a gear shift lever mechanism If, such transmission l6 having the usual or conventional drive to the axle means of the propeller wheels l2. Operatively connected to the transmission i5 is an auxiliary transmission mechanism or power take-off means M, of conventional form.

An extension frame l9 projects forwardly from the frame or chassis II and suspended therefrom as by means of cleats or brackets 20 is a heat control box or hood 2|, the same being closed at all sides except the bottom, and the latter is spaced an appropriate distance above the roadway or surface being cleared. This heat control box may be interlorly heated in any suitable manner so that ice or snow over which it travels will be subjected to the heat and melted. For instance, burner means 22 may be provided within the hood 2| and receive fuel oil from a tank or reservoir 23 carried by the chassis or body ll, through a valve controlled conduit or the like leading to the burner means 23, such conduit being designated 24.

At the forward end of auxiliary frame 19, a moldboard or plow 25 is suitably supported at any suitable height above the roadway or surface being cleared, it being understood that such moldboard or plow 25 is not intended to remove all snow but only removes it to a certain depth and thus constitutes an excess snow remover.

Such excess snow remover 25 is carried by a conventional hydraulic lift mechanism at 26 and the same is adjustable to diiferent positions from the axis of the hydraulic lift 26 and is fastened in any of such adjusted positions by conventional means at 21. A flexible hose 28 leads to the hydraulic lift, passing through guides 29 on the frame 89, and extending into the cab i4 and being operated by conventional hydraulic mechanism disposed therein and under control of the driver, and which mechanism specifically constitutes no part of the invention, Through the operation of the hydraulic lift, the elevation of the excess snow remover 25 with respect to the road bed or surface being cleared may be varied, it being understood that it is held at the different heights by such hydraulic lift.

- Between the excess snow remover 25 and the heat control box or hood 2! an ice breaker 30 is located, the same having a shaft or hub 3! which is journaled in brackets 32 extending forwardiy from the hood 2|. A plurality of breaker tines or teeth 33 project substantially radially from the shaft 3| in order to contact the ice at their free ends and break it, so that when the or conventional transmission l6 under control hood or heat control box 2! passes thereover, its

loose sprocket wheel 35 carried by a short fixed shaft 36 mounted by auxiliary frame l9. Sprocket wheel 35 is partof a beveled gear wheel 31 enmeshed with a beveled gear wheel 38, carried by a shaft 39 journaled in bearings 40 mounted on the hood or heat control box 2|. Such shaft 39 at its other end is suitably connected to and operated from. the transmission I8. Shaft 39 includes a clutch orlever operated control mechanism 40', whereby the ice breaker 30 may be placed in or out of operation as preferred. Shaft 39 also is sectional since it includes a universal joint as at 4|.

The ice or snow over which the hood 2| passes, is melted 11w the heat produced and the resulting water .is maintained in a pool or restrained to facilitate its removal. It is held in such pool or restrained by angularly disposed bars 42, in effect forming a V, the same being separate and spaced apart as shown or provided in a single piece forming a complete V. Such bars are suspended by links 43, to which they are pivoted as at 44. The links are pivoted at 45 to a crossbar 45, for instance of angular form, riveted as at 41 to the frame I 9. The bars 42 may be of angle form as shown and at their inner sides may have squeegee rubber, leather or other flexible strips 48 secured thereto as by rivets or other fastenings 49. The water collected or restrained by the bars 42 is removed by suction through a nozzle 50 which is disposed between the bars 42 adjacent the rear ends thereof. Such nozzle 50 may be connected to the bars 42 and supported thereby. The inlet of the nozzle is an elongated opening at the front and its outlet is in the form of a nipple 52 which is connected to a suction conduit 53 in which a cut-off and regulating valve 54 is interposed. Any-suitable means may be provided to cause a suction and eduction through the conduit 53 and for instance a pump as suggested at 55, the discharge from which may be at any desired location.

' Auxiliary suction pipes or conduits 58 are provided one on each side'of the hood or heat control box 2|, being positioned'by brackets as at 55. The forward ends of the auxiliary conduits 56 are open to constitute intakes and they are located adjacent the front end of the hood 2| while the rear ends of the auxiliary conduits 56 are connected to the conduit 53, as well shown in Figure 6, and .each has a cut-off and regulating valve 51 therein.

When the vehicle is operating on alevel or on upgrades, the suction is'eflected to remove the water through the nozzle 50 since valve 54 will be open and valves 51 will be closed. However, in travelling downgrade, the water will be removed adjacent the front of the heat control box or hood 2| through the auxiliary conduits 56, since valves 51 will be open and valve 54 closed.

Adjacent the rear of the machine, a suitable rotary brush 58 is provided. Brush 58 is rigid on a shaft or axle 59 journaled in side arms 50, rigidly connected at opposite ends to a transverse rocker shaft 6|, having a beveled gear wheel 52 loose thereon and forming part of a sprocket wheel 53 over which a sprocket chain 54 is passed and which is trained over a sprocket wheel 65 rigid on the brush shaft 59. Shaft 6| is journaled in the depending arms 66 of a U-shaped mounting or bracket 61, whose bridge 58 is horizontal and centrally pivoted on a vertical axis at 59 to the frame II for movement to position the melting will be facilitated. A sprocket chain :4 is geared to the shaft 3| and is also geared to a brush at different angles, as suggested in Figure 1, to direct swept matter toward a curb or away from the contend the roadway. according to the direction of travel of the vehicle. Said brush 58 is rotated from the auxiliary transmission or power take-off mechanism l8 for instance through the medium of a shaft 10, which is connected by conventional gearing II to the beveled gear 62, which accordingly rotates the sprocket wheel 83,

chain, sprocket wheel 65, shaft 59 and the brush.

The angular position of the brush is varied through operation of a lever mechanism at I2 which is accessible from the driver's seat. Such mechanism has a-coacting latch and segment at I 13, the latter being mounted on the vehicle, and a action.

A dryer nozzle I6 is adapted to discharge heated air against the surface or roadway after clearing thereof, and it is located behind the brush 58. This dryer nozzle 16 is .open at the bottom and is transversely elongated and of approximately the same width as the vehicle. Such nozzle I5 is suspended from the frame H as at 11 and is connected by'a pipe or conduit 18 with the rear wall of the heat control box or duct 2|, adjacent'the top of'the latter.

A rotary blower 19, suitably mounted on the frame II, has a pipe or conduit extending therefrom which opens and discharges into the pipe or conduit I8, being so constructed and arranged that air under pressure from the blower enters the conduit 18 from the conduit 80, in a direction away from the heat control box 2| and toward the' nozzle I5. The draft of hot air from said heat control box 2| through the pipe 18 and nozzle 16, in addition to being effected by the action of blower 19, is enhanced by the discharge into the pipe I8 toward the nozzle 16 and relatively close thereto, of exhaust products from the operation of the internal combustion motor l5, through a pipe 8|. The muilier in the fuel discharge line from such motor 5 and from which the pipe 8| extends, is shown at 82.

The pump 55 and rotary blower 19, as well as the brush 58, are driven from the auxiliary transmission or power take-ofi mechanism I8 in any suitable manner, as through flexible shafting and gearing '84 and 85, respectively, leading therefrom.

A conduit. 83 communicates with the blower l9 and with the fuel tank 23 so as to place the fuel within the tank 23 under pressure to aid its dis-' charge through the conduit 24 and burner 22 to effectively diffuse the same at the nozzle of the latter.

It will be realized that in operation, excess snow is removed, as the vehicle travels forward, through the action of the remover 25, that ice in the path of travel is broken or crushed by the crusher 30 and that the snow and ice as the hood or heat control box 2| passes thereover is melted and forms a reservoir in front of the bars 42 which is pumped away, on a level or upgrade through the nozzle 50 and conduit 53 while it is pumped away on a downgrade through, the nozzles 58 and conduit 53. Thereafter, the surface is engaged by the brush 58, following which it is subjected to the blast of drying air through the nozzle I5.

The excess snow remover 25 insures that the amount of snow or ice to be removed through the travel of the vehicle is not in excess of the capacity of the vehicle or apparatus.

' connection on said frame from said power means to the crusher to operate the latter.

2. A mobile snow removing structure including a mobile body, means to heat a roadway, means to remove water produced by the heat, means to remove excess snow from the roadway before subjection to the heat, a crusher for engagement with the roadway located between the excess snow remover and the heating means, power means to propel the mobile body, a connection from said power means to the crusher to operate the latter, including a shaft, a forwardly extending frame on the mobile body from which the heating means is suspended, means journaling said shaft on the heating means, and a drive from saidshaft to the crusher.

3. Snow removing means comprising a mobile body, heating means for snow on the roadway over which the vehicle travels, suction means on the body to remove water resulting from the heating means, and nozzle means for the suction means one located adjacent the forward end of the heating means and one adjacent the rear end of the heating means.

4. Snow removing means comprising a mobile body, heating means. for snow on the roadway over which the vehicle travels, suction means on the body to remove water resulting from the heating means, nozzle means for the suction heating means, nozzle means for the suction means one located adjacent the forward end of the heating means and one adjacent the rear end of the heating means, rearwardly converging bars engaging the roadway in the rear of the heating means to confine water for removal by the adjacent nozzle.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a mobile body, a hood carried thereby, means to heat air within the hood so as to melt snow therebeneath, means to remove water resulting from melting of the snow, a nozzle behind the last mentioned means to discharge against the means one located adjacent the forward end of the heating means and one adjacent the rear end of the heating means, and valve means to selectively close and open the nozzles.

5. Snow removing means comprislng a mobile body, heating means for snow on the roadway over which the vehicle travels, suction means on the body to remove water resulting from the roadway,

roadway, means establishing communication from said hood to said nozzle, blower means to discharge air into the last mentioned means to facilitate the discharge of heated air through the nozzle.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a mobile body, a hood carried thereby, means to heat air within the hood so as to melt snow therebeneath, means to remove water resulting from melting of the snow, a nozzle'behind the last mentioned means to discharge against the means establishing communication from said hood to said nozzle, blower means to discharge air into the last mentioned means to facilitate discharge of heated air through the nozzle, an internal combustion engine to operate the mobile body, said engine having its discharge line connected to the nozzle to facilitate the passage of heated air therethrough.

8. Apparatus of the class ,described comprising a mobile body, a hood carried thereby, means to heat air within the hood so as to melt snow therebeneath, means to remove water resulting from melting of the snow, a nozzle behind the last mentioned means to discharge against the roadway, means establishing communication from said hood to said nozzle, blower means to discharge air into the last mentioned means to facilitate discharge of heated air through the nozzle, an internal combustion engine to operate the mobile body, said engine having its discharge line connected to the nozzle to facilitate the passage of heated air therethrough, means to contain fuel for supply to the heating means, means 

